ZPL Label Cheat Sheet

Printer Path

• Zebra direct - requires Zebra Browser Print service on the client machine
• Zebra network bridge - sends raw ZPL to host/port through the app server
• ZPL download - downloads a .zpl file for manual send/queue

Network Bridge Defaults

• Default raw printer port: 9100
• Valid port range: 1-65535
• Empty or invalid port input resets to 9100
• Default timeout: 5000 ms (UI range 1000-30000 ms)

Connection Test Flow

• 1. Set printer host (IP or DNS) in Admin -> Label Printing.
• 2. Keep port at 9100 unless printer config says otherwise.
• 3. Click Test printer connection.
• 4. Print labels only after test succeeds.

Movement

• Increase x -> moves right
• Decrease x -> moves left
• Increase y -> moves down
• Decrease y -> moves up

Text Size

• Increase h -> taller text
• Decrease h -> shorter text
• Increase w -> wider text
• Decrease w -> narrower text

Barcode

• Increase moduleWidth -> thicker bars
• Decrease moduleWidth -> thinner bars
• Increase barHeight -> taller barcode
• Decrease barHeight -> shorter barcode

Border

• border.x / border.y -> move border
• border.width / border.height -> resize border
• border.thickness -> line thickness

Dot Scale (203 DPI)

• 10 dots ~ 0.05 in
• 20 dots ~ 0.10 in
• 40 dots ~ 0.20 in
• 100 dots ~ 0.49 in
• 203 dots = 1.00 in

Common Connection Errors

• connect ECONNREFUSED host:9100 -> host reached, but nothing is listening on that port
• connection timed out -> printer unreachable (IP, VLAN, firewall, DNS)
• Printer host is required -> host field is empty

Fast Tuning Workflow

• 1. Pick the closest preset size.
• 2. Print a test label.
• 3. Position barcode block first.
• 4. Position title and price.
• 5. Fine-tune item/SKU/supplier/footer.
• 6. Save layout.

Most Common Fixes

• Text too low -> reduce y
• Text too high -> increase y
• Text too far right -> reduce x
• Text too far left -> increase x
• Barcode too thick -> reduce moduleWidth
• Barcode not scanning -> increase barHeight